New legislation designed to protect salmon stocks has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.

The Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill won MSPs' approval by 93 votes to 16.

It was introduced in response to the failing fortunes of North Atlantic wild salmon and a general reduction in other salmon stocks.

It will give District Salmon Fishery Boards enhanced powers so that they can tighten river fishing regulations, lengthen close seasons or even make anglers release any salmon they catch.

Environmentalists have criticised the Bill for not tackling the big threats to wild salmon out at sea.

But the Scottish Anglers National Association says it is confident that issues such as the impact of salmon farming on wild fish will be addressed in a forthcoming inquiry.

Minister unveils careers shake-up

A shake-up in the Scottish careers service has been unveiled by Enterprise Minister Wendy Alexander.

The country's four individual services will be brought together into a new one-stop-shop and given a new name, Careers Scotland.

She also told MSPs that there would be a 25% increase in funding over the next three years, with extra spending of £24m.

Ms Alexander said she wanted to put education and skills training at the heart of the careers service of the future.

She said she was clearing away the clutter and privatisation in the careers service.

And the minister stressed that the 1,200 staff currently employed by private companies would be offered new posts in the public sector organisation.

MSP resigns over 'conflict of interest'

The convener of a Scottish Parliament committee has resigned from a housing association after allegations of a conflict of interest.

Johann Lamont said her decision to step down from Glasgow Housing Association's management committee would prevent any suggestion of "wrongdoing" regarding her new role in overseeing housing stock transfer in Scotland.

The Labour MSP for Glasgow was elected convener of the new social justice committee, which has responsibility for housing.

The issue of the future managment of council housing in Scotland is currently a hot political issue.

A major step on the road to change is due to take place in November when Glasgow's council house tenants vote on whether to transfer their homes out of local authority ownership into the hands of new "social landlords".

Cash for union learning projects

More than £500,000 has been given to trades union learning projects in Scotland.

Enterprise Minister Wendy Alexander said the cash would help trade unions to promote a "culture of lifelong learning" in workplaces around Scotland.

The money has been allocated under a bidding process from the £1.2m Scottish Union Learning Fund.

One of the successful bids, the Rosyth Joint Trade Unions project, received more than £38,000 to provide learning opportunities for workers.